Compare Virgin Islands (2007) - Swaziland (2005)

Compare Virgin Islands (2007) z Swaziland (2005)

	Virgin Islands (2007)	Swaziland (2005)

Administrative divisions	none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas	4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Age structure	0-14 years: 21.8% (male 11,897/female 11,696) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 34,204/female 37,911) 65 years and over: 11.7% (male 5,642/female 7,098) (2007 est.)	0-14 years: 40.6% (male 240,643/female 235,895) 15-64 years: 55.6% (male 327,661/female 325,400) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 19,273/female 25,028) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products	fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle	sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Airports	2 (2007)	18 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)	total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways	-	total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)
Area	total: 1,910 sq km land: 346 sq km water: 1,564 sq km	total: 17,363 sq km land: 17,203 sq km water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative	twice the size of Washington, DC	slightly smaller than New Jersey
Background	During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.	Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection
Birth rate	13.68 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)	27.72 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget	revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA	revenues: $494.6 million expenditures: $552.7 million, including capital expenditures of $147 million (2004 est.)
Capital	name: Charlotte Amalie geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)	Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital
Climate	subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November	varies from tropical to near temperate
Coastline	188 km	0 km (landlocked)
Constitution	Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954	a constitution was due to be adopted in November 2003 but was delayed and scheduled for early 2005
Country name	conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies abbreviation: USVI	conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland conventional short form: Swaziland
Death rate	6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)	25.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external	$NA	$320 million (2002 est.)
Dependency status	organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior	-
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (territory of the US)	chief of mission: Ambassador Lewis LUCKE embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: [268] 404-6441 through 404-6445 FAX: [268] 404-5959
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (territory of the US)	chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002 FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254
Disputes - international	none	none
Economic aid - recipient	$NA	$104 million (2001)
Economy - overview	Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.6 million visitors in 2005. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are small but growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment.	In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies more than 80% of the population. The manufacturing sector has diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remain important foreign exchange earners. Mining has declined in importance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines remaining active. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives about nine-tenths of its imports and to which it sends nearly three-quarters of its exports. Customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union and worker remittances from South Africa substantially supplement domestically earned income. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2004 because of drought, and more than one-third of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS.
Electricity - consumption	926.4 million kWh (2005)	1.173 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2005)	799 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2002)
Electricity - production	996.1 million kWh (2005)	402 million kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m	lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Environment - current issues	lack of natural freshwater resources	limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements	-	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups	black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)	African 97%, European 3%
Exchange rates	the US dollar is used	emalangeni per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000)
Executive branch	chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007) cabinet: NA elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010) election results: John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%	chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Absolom Themba DLAMINI (since 14 November 2003) cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Exports	NA bbl/day	NA
Exports - commodities	refined petroleum products	soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
Exports - partners	US, Puerto Rico (2006)	South Africa 59.7%, EU 8.8%, US 8.8%, Mozambique 6.2% (2004)
Fiscal year	1 October - 30 September	1 April - 31 March
Flag description	white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel	three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)	agriculture: 16.1% industry: 43.4% services: 40.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita	-	purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	2% (2002 est.)	2.5% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates	18 20 N, 64 50 W	26 30 S, 31 30 E
Geography - note	important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean	landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
Highways	-	total: 3,107 km paved: NA unpaved: NA (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%	lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 50.2% (1995)
Imports	NA bbl/day	NA
Imports - commodities	crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials	motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners	US, Puerto Rico (2006)	South Africa 95.6%, EU 0.9%, Japan 0.9%, Singapore 0.3% (2004)
Independence	none (territory of the US)	6 September 1968 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	3.7% (FY95/96)
Industries	tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics	mining (coal, raw asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textile and apparel
Infant mortality rate	total: 7.69 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)	total: 69.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 72.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 65.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	2.2% (2003)	5.4% (2004 est.)
International organization participation	IOC, UPU	ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Irrigated land	NA	690 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)	High Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the monarch
Labor force	43,980 (2004 est.)	383,200 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.)	NA
Land boundaries	0 km	total: 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Land use	arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 2.86% other: 91.43% (2005)	arable land: 10.35% permanent crops: 0.7% other: 88.95% (2001)
Languages	English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)	English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Legal system	based on US laws	based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch	unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3 note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)	bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory body, consists of the Senate (30 seats - 10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats - 10 appointed by the monarch and 55 elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 18 October 2003 (next to be held October 2008) election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 79.2 years male: 75.4 years female: 83.22 years (2007 est.)	total population: 33.22 years male: 32.49 years female: 33.98 years (2005 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90-95% est. male: NA% female: NA% (2005 est.)	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.6% male: 82.6% female: 80.8% (2003 est.)
Location	Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico	Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Map references	Central America and the Caribbean	Africa
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm	none (landlocked)
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of the US	-
Military branches	-	Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing), Royal Swaziland Police Force (RSPF) (2005)
Military expenditures - dollar figure	-	$40.5 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	-	1.4% (2004)
National holiday	Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)	Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
Nationality	noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens) adjective: Virgin Islander	noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi
Natural hazards	several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes	drought
Natural resources	sun, sand, sea, surf	asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Net migration rate	-8.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders	Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]	political parties are banned by the government - the following are considered political associations; Imbokodvo National Movement or INM [leader NA]; Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Obed DLAMINI, president]; People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders	NA	NA
Population	108,448 (July 2007 est.)	1,173,900 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA% (2002)	40% (1995)
Population growth rate	-0.171% (2007 est.)	0.25% (2005 est.)
Radio broadcast stations	AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2005)	AM 3, FM 2 plus 4 repeaters, shortwave 3 (2004)
Railways	-	total: 301 km narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)
Religions	Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%	Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship) 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish and other 30%
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.017 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.902 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.795 male(s)/female total population: 0.912 male(s)/female (2007 est.)	at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections	18 years of age
Telephone system	general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay domestic: full range of services available international: country code - 1-340; 2 submarine cable connections (Taino Carib, Americas-1); satellite earth stations - NA	general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system domestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use	71,700 (2005)	46,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular	80,300 (2005)	88,000 (2003)
Television broadcast stations	5 (2006)	5 plus 7 relay stations (2004)
Terrain	mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land	mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Total fertility rate	2.16 children born/woman (2007 est.)	3.7 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate	6.2% (2004)	34% (2000 est.)

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